Most of us would have used a candle before – whether small ones to light birthday cakes, or scented ones to make your house look and smell amazing. However, did you know that candles are older than socks and flush toilets?
Here are some other interesting facts about candles that you may not have known.
Candles have been around for a long, long time
The first use of candles is often linked all the way back to the ancient Egyptians, as they made rushlights or torches by soaking the dried pith of the rush plant in melted animal fat. Rushlights, however, had no wick, and so some did not consider them to be real candles.
The ancient Romans were believed to have developed the wicked candle as we know it. They dipped rolled papyrus into melted tallow or beeswax to create candles to light their homes and for religious ceremonies.
Candles were once made out of animals
The Eulachon, also known as ‘candlefish’, has such a high fat content that you can light the fish and use it as a candle. Yes, the actual whole fish.
That aside, tallow, which was extracted from cattle and sheep, was popularly used to make candles in Europe during the Middle Ages. When the whaling industry thrived in the 18th century, candles were made from spermaceti wax derived from sperm whales. Besides animals, insects, beeswax, tree nuts, cinnamon fruits, bay-berries and other various plants were also used by different civilizations to create wax.
Candles functioned as clocks
Before watches, smartphones and other similar devices existed, people used candles to tell time. These candle clocks were made with markings to measure the passing of time. Generally, the space between two marks indicated an hour.
To use the candles as a timer or to set an alarm, nails or metals were stuck into a particular marking. When the candle melted, the item would drop, and the noise it made would indicate that the time was up.
The candle flame always points up
Did you realise that the candle light always points upwards in a teardrop shape? As a candle burns, the nearby air becomes hot and rises up, leaving a void at the bottom that is replaced by cooler air. This cycle, known as the convection current, creates the shape of the flame.
Interestingly, however, NASA scientists have revealed that a candle flame is spherical when it burns in space. This is because the convection current does not exist in space, as there is no gravity to pull the colder air down.
Candle wicks can be made of different materials
Most quality candles wicks today are either made of all-cotton, or cotton with paper fibres. Some also use wooden wicks, which give off a beautiful crackling sound as they burn.
Lead wicks were normally used in cheaper candles, but they have been banned from the US market since 2003. In Australia, candle wicks containing more than 0.06 percent lead are banned.
Some candles have metal-core wicks to keep the wick upright as the candle burns. Zinc and tin-core wicks are scientifically shown to be safe and non-toxic.
Candles in all scents and sizes
Candles are now available in a wide variety of colours, shapes, sizes and fragrances. Scented candles are not only great for setting ambience and home decoration, but they also make perfect gifts. They are suitable for all occasions, including birthdays, Christmases, and housewarmings.
At Candle Gifts, we have the largest and most diverse range of scented candles in Australia. From natural scents like vanilla and rose, to more complicated fragrances to remind you of the seaside or the autumn woods, we’ve got what you’re looking for.
Shop on our website today!
